A combined investigation by Scotland and Knox counties law enforcement officials has led to the arrest of four Knox County men in a string of vandalism cases in Scotland County.

William P. Goucher, 20, of Edina and Leon C. Perry, 17, of Novelty, were taken into custody at 9:25 a.m. July 19. Both were charged with four class C felony counts of tampering and one count of class D felony property damage stemming from their alleged involvement in the vandalism spree.

Mathew F. Schrage, 17, of Hurdland was taken into custody at 1:27 p.m. July 19. Jeremy R. Hicks, 20, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Both face the four felony tampering charges as well as the felony property damage charge.

According to the Scotland County Sheriff's Department, the four were arrested following an investigation into the vandalism of a soda machine in Rutledge. The four also allegedly stole a street sign in Memphis and vandalized four school buses in Memphis that had windows broken out.

Numerous other signs in Scotland County were vandalized and other pieces of property were damaged. The sheriff's department reported additional charges are being sought in connection to the unresolved property damage and vandalism.

Hicks, Perry and Goucher were all transported to the Schuyler County Jail where they were held on $10,000 bond. Schrage was taken to the Clark County Jail where he was held on $10,000 bond.

The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Scotland County Sheriff's Department, Memphis Police Department, Knox County Sheriff's Department and the Edina Police Department.